A high-priced, ocean-side resort in Georgia is no stranger to hosting political fundraisers, including for Nebraska’s 2nd District Congressman Lee Terry.

The 5-star destination is on Sea Island, nestled among exclusive country clubs and miles of private beach. From June 21-24, the resort -- called The Cloister -- was the site of an event for Lee Terry’s reelection bid.

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The Terry campaign paid the resort $14,730 for the stay.

The resort comes highly recommended from Forbes Travel Guide. It awarded the highest ranking possible to the venue saying in its review, “wood-beamed rooms are decorated with rich, jewel-toned Turkish rugs and plush, pillow-topped beds.”

Some of the world’s best golfers compete in a PGA Tour event at The Cloister’s golf course; it has a 65,000-square-foot spa and owns five miles of private beach on Sea Island. The resort describes itself as a place filled with “beauty,” “distinction,” and “opulence.”

The KETV NewsWatch 7 I-Team found the spending by going through every page of Congressman Terry’s latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. Payments to The Cloister are found on page 117, 125, and 145. Federal law requires candidates to file receipts and expenditures quarterly with the FEC.

“This is a very impressive location and I would imagine that there’s a lot of money there,” said Jack Gould of Common Cause Nebraska, a campaign finance watchdog group. The I-Team showed Gould the destination and how much it cost for the event. Gould says the price of campaigning gets between the candidate and the voter.

“There’s no need for politicians to run around and get to the average voter,” said Gould. “It’s a question now of going where the money is – whether it’s the Cloisters or any country club, and most of the normal, average people aren’t going to be found there.”

The I-Team also showed the spending to a campaign finance expert at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Professor Randy Adkins was not surprised by the discovery. Campaigns for Congress are not cheap.

Adkins says the third biggest expense for any campaign is spending money to raise money.

“Incumbents raise a good bit of their money outside the state,” Adkins said. “And they have benefits because they are known nationally where challengers are often not known nationally so they can reach out.”

We asked the Terry campaign to confirm the purpose of the trip to Sea Island.

The campaign confirmed the specific trip, and in a statement, campaign spokesperson Larry Farnsworth said, “In order to further the Congressman’s principles and goals for Nebraska, Congressman Terry makes several trips a year to raise money outside the district with supporters from across the country.”

Adkins said its likely Terry’s potential donors are familiar with the lifestyle catered to by a destination like The Cloister, and he said this type of spending is typical for every incumbent’s campaign.

“The people who are big donors who want to give, that’s probably the kind of place they want to go,” he said.

The I-Team also asked the Terry campaign how much money it raised at The Cloister and who was there with the eight-term House member. By statement, the campaign refused answers: “It is not our practice to disclose attendees, donors and contributions for specific events. All of the required information has been disclosed with the FEC.”

KETV NewsWatch 7 has learned The Cloister has been in the headlines. The resort hosted a prestigious G8 Summit in 2004, and it is a favorite destination of political super PACs. For Gould, fundraisers at a place like The Cloister show the need for candidates to cater to big-money donors.

“If I don’t support this, I won’t get the money,” Gould said. “If I do support it, I’ll get the money, but I’ve sold my soul to the donors of that big money.”

The KETV NewsWatch 7 will have more complete coverage of Campaign 2014. The I-Team will be tracking the money to tell you where it’s coming from, and where it’s going.